Top 4 Candidates To Replace Outgoing Luis Enrique At Barcelona

After Barcelona thrashed Sporting Gijon 6-1 on Wednesday,
Luis Enrique stunned journalists in the Ricard Maxenchs press room by announcing
he would not be continuing at the club beyond the end of the season.

The coach's contract expires in June and he will walk away
from the Catalan giants in order to rest and recuperate after a tiring but
trophy-laden three years in the Camp Nou dugout after spending eight years
gracing the stadium as a player and three seasons in charge of the B team.

President Josep Maria Bartomeu says the search for Luis
Enrique's replacement will be undertaken with discretion, but rumours are sure
to fly in the coming weeks about who it will be.

Here are four strong candidates for Barcelona to consider:

1. Juan
Carlos Unzue

According to Diario Sport, assistant manager Unzue is Luis
Enrique's choice to take over from him and continue his work. The Spaniard is
already in charge of various aspects of the team's strategy, including set
pieces.

On lesser occasions, like early Copa del Rey clashes, he has been the
man directing the team from the sidelines, while Lucho took a backseat and let
his assistant gain experience.

In the negative column is the fact Unzue has never coached a
top-flight side himself, although Tito Vilanova was in a similar position when
appointed in 2012 after Pep Guardiola left.

2. Jorge
Sampaoli

The Sevilla coach has made it clear that he would love to
take over at the Camp Nou if given the chance, particularly with his lavish
praise of Lionel Messi, and his affectionate manner with Barcelona players
after they faced his side at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan in November.

The Argentine's attacking style would delight the purists at
Camp Nou, not to mention the way he likes his teams to dominate the ball --
something Barcelona have been accused of abandoning in the Luis Enrique era. Sampaoli keeping Sevilla in the fight for the Spanish title is another huge
tick in his column, although counting against him is a lack of a Blaugrana
past. The club have tended to lean towards hiring those who have a history with
them, such as Luis Enrique, Guardiola and Vilanova.

Real Sociedad coach Eusebio during their La Liga game
against Barcelona.

Unlike Sampaoli, Eusebio Sacristan can point to a history
with the Catalan club.

3. Eusebio
Sacristan

Like Luis Enrique and Guardiola, he is a former Barca B
manager. But unlike the other two, he left in acrimony. The fans were angry
about how he was operating -- using new signings rather than La Masia youth
products -- and results were disastrous too, with the team slipping to
relegation to Spain's regionalised third tier after he was sacked.

He has gone a long way in recovering his reputation since
then with Real Sociedad, who he has lead into a charge for the fourth Champions
League spot this campaign while playing attractive passing football, overseeing
a dramatic turnaround in the Basque side's fortunes after David Moyes had left
them in a sorry state.

A midfielder in his playing days at Camp Nou, he was also
assistant manager to Frank Rijkaard for five years at Barca and took charge of
Celta Vigo in 2009-10, so he has plenty of experience at the club.

Ernesto Valverde appears to be a safe choice. But will his
tactics be attacking enough for the Barcelona faithful?

4. Ronald
Koeman

Considered less likely among Spanish media than the previous
four candidates, Koeman has still been linked to the job on various occasions
and has stated that he would like to take over at Camp Nou in the future.

Early
betting odds put him as second favourite, despite his struggle to drag Everton
into contention for the Champions League places in the Premier League.

Koeman has a rich Barcelona history, playing for the club
over 250 times between 1989 and 1995, a key part of the "Dream Team."
He is fondly remembered at Camp Nou, having helped Barcelona to four titles,
one Copa del Rey and their first European Cup in 1992. It was Koeman's goal
that helped them win it and the club are planning 25th anniversary celebrations
for the achievement later this year. What better way to celebrate than to bring
him back?